Important News from the Nurse
- Fever of 100.4º F and over - exclude until student has been fever-free without the use of fever reducing medications (like Tylenol or Motrin) for at least 24 hours.
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye), strep infections, ringworm, and impetigo are all infections and must be treated with medication for a minimum of 24 hours before returning to school. Please do not allow affected students back before this time so that other students are not infected unnecessarily.
- Rash of unknown origin with fever and/or behavioral changes, until a primary care provider has determined that the illness is not a communicable disease.
- Head injury.
- Severe coughing or difficulty breathing.
- Colds - a child with thick or constant nasal discharge should remain home.
- Diarrhea - sudden increase in frequency to more than three loose/watery stools per day. Exclude until student has been symptom free for at least 24 hours.
- Vomiting - unless the vomiting is determined to be caused by a diagnosed non-communicable/non-infectious condition (such as dysmenorrhea, dysphagia, etc.).
- Abdominal pain that continues for more that two hours or intermittent abdominal pain associated with fever or other signs or symptoms.
- Stiff neck associated with fever and/or a recent injury.
- Inadequate immunizations with known disease outbreak in school.
- Refer to the Virginia Department of Health's "Communicable Disease Reference Chart for School Personnel" for other exclusions/information.
- Refer to PWCS Regulation 757-1
All students should have up-to-date parent/guardian contact information and three local emergency contacts on file with the school in the event that contact needs to be made due to a student health emergency.